By Steve Holland and Julia Symmes Cobb WASHINGTON/BOGOTA, March 10 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden and Colombian President Ivan Duque are expected to discuss Venezuela when they meet at the White House on Thursday, days after Duque expressed some public concerns about secret negotiations between the United States and Venezuela. The meeting between […]
The post Venezuela Likely Topic at Biden Meeting With Colombia’s Duque appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
By Anthony Boadle Brazilian Indigenous women perform a ritual dance during a protest against President Jair Bolsonaro’s environmental policies next the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado BRASILIA, March 9 (Reuters) – Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, suffered a setback on Wednesday in his effort to rush through a law […]
The post Bolsonaro Suffers Setback On Bill to Mine Indigenous Lands appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
BBC- US Border Patrol agents found dozens of horned lizards and snakes hidden in a man’s clothing as he crossed into the US from Mexico last month. The scaly discovery occurred at the San Ysidro border crossing near San Diego around 03:00 local time on 25 February. The man was driving a pickup truck when […]
The post Arrested: US Border Patrol Finds Dozens of Snakes and Reptiles in Man’s Outfit appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
Guatemala’s Congress has voted in favour of a law which prohibits same-sex marriage. The law will also prohibit the teaching of sexual diversity in schools and raise the prison sentences for women seeking abortion. Abortion is banned in Guatemala except in cases where the woman’s life is at risk. In order to come into force, […]
The post Guatemala Congress Bans Same-Sex Marriage appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
Pfizer begins antiviral treatment trials on kids © Pfizer via AP Pfizer on Wednesday announced it has begun the Phase 2 and 3 stages of its study into the use of its antiviral COVID-19 treatment in young children. The oral COVID-19 treatment called Paxlovid is currently one of two authorized SARS-CoV-2 antiviral treatments in the U.S. It is permitted […]
The post Global Covid Cases Continue to Drop, New Pfizer Trials on Kids, More Than a Quarter of US Congress Has Had Covid appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
By Will Fyfe
BBC News
Some military veterans have received cold call approaches about fighting in Ukraine, the BBC understands.
Private militias have reportedly been scouring social media to recruit ex-soldiers.
Ukraine has previously asked for volunteers to join its International Legion.
But the Foreign Office has said anyone who travels unlawfully to Ukraine for combat will be investigated on their return to the UK.
Afghanistan veteran Steve, not his real name, told the BBC Wales Live programme he had received at least 10 approaches, including one which offered him money.
“Whenever there’s conflict the chatter starts up, but there was a different tone to this, a more deliberate tone,” he said.
“There are private militias who’ve been scouring social media for veterans, so these private militias have been trying to recruit.”
Steve said he believed the offer of money wasn’t genuine, but many of the other contacts he’d received were from other veterans looking to organise groups in the UK before travelling to Ukraine.
“I did very well on my second tour of Afghanistan and obviously when you’re over there you make a lot of contacts,” he said.
“The more serious guys are trying to organise it here and go as a group of people that are people you’ve deployed with, served with, people who know each other’s skill set.”
However, Steve said he was increasingly concerned for the welfare of both veterans and civilian volunteers.
“A lot of guys want to go out and help, but some are jumping on the bandwagon and have no military experience. Some are veterans, but they’ve never deployed, so they’ve never been in combat,” he said.
“Veterans with mental health issues, physical issues, and people that go over there that can’t fight, that’s not actually a help that’s more of a hindrance.
“Who are you meeting at the border? Will you get good weapons systems? Will you get medical care? There are too many moving parts.”
Image source, Rab Grady, Despite doing his best to warn others of the dangers, Steve said many veterans would be vulnerable to offers, and the constant talk about going to fight had left his own mind racing.
“I did take myself off down to the beach early hours one morning,” he said.
“I needed to get some de-sensitisation away from radio, away from social media, and to just think it through.
“If I think with my brain and not emotion then that tells me I’ve fought – I’ve been somewhere and done something – and my priority now is my family.”
BBC Wales Live has heard from veteran support staff concerned that more vulnerable members of the community could be tempted by approaches.
Mark, not his real name, is an agricultural worker with no military experience. But he feels he can contribute to Ukraine’s war effort.
“I’ve spoken to a few people, but not many,” the 26-year-old said.
“They’ve all been telling me not to go, that I’m a bit crazy for wanting to go and there are different ways to help, but it feels like the best way to help is by being on the ground.
“I’m ready to book a flight, I’ve just got bits and bobs to get now and then I’ll be over there.”
Kirsty, who works in an Army surplus store, said it had almost sold out of its entire stock of combat helmets and vests.
“We’ve had people ringing up with lists, asking can we donate items. Things like helmets, plate carriers, any proper military protective gear,” she said.
“We’re a very small business, the things people want, we can’t just give them away.”
Robert McCartney, from charity Beyond the Battlefield, said he’d heard of veterans approaching each other about going out to Ukraine.
“Social media is full of it,” he said. “A lot of these guys are saying ‘right, I’m on my way – does anybody want to be there?’
“They see themselves as being able to go out there and recreate themselves as soldiers.
“They are approaching the guys who are in responsible positions, who are in relationships.”
Mr McCartney raised concerns for some vulnerable veterans.
“One of them came in here last week telling me that he was going on Sunday,” he said.
“I was able to talk him out of it. He’s got an eight-week-old baby and that was his biggest worry, so I was able to play on those worries.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We advise against travel to Ukraine and anyone who travels to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity, should expect to be investigated upon their return to the UK.”
The post Ukraine: Private Militias Recruiting Former Soldiers for Big Bucks appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS — Ten women and girls along with two organisations on Nevis were honoured at an International Women’s Day Awards Ceremony at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC) on March 08, 2022. The theme was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” #breakthebias.
At the event which was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs, awards were presented to Mrs. Wendy Elliott-Williams; Mrs. Merla Isles Barzey; Ms. Rhosyll Jeffers; Mrs. Rita Tamara Persuad; Ms. Joy Napier; Ms. Devene Smithen; Ms. Aleyah Powell; Ms. Kwesian Davis; Ms. Hydeia Tyson; Ms. Nykiesha Henry and two organisations namely the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS); and Windward in Action (WinA), for their contributions in various areas of sustainable development on Nevis.
Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health and Gender Affairs in her remarks told the awardees they were valued, and urged them to encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
“I salute you this evening. You are our prized possession. Your stellar efforts and accomplishments cause you to shine even more. Let this evening’s award cause you to do more. Never stop at where you are. Exceed more expectations, surpass more limits, shatter more glass ceilings and do so while bringing other women and girls along with you on the path to greatness. The difference you make will empower others to make a difference likewise.
“You have made us all proud. We are eternally proud of your accomplishments. You make me proud to be woman. So on behalf of the Nevis Island Administration, I want to thank you for being amazing, to thank you for what you have started, and we implore you to continue to do what you are doing. We congratulate you and we say kudos on a job well done,” she said.
Mrs. Brandy-Williams stated that those who were awarded proves that the theme for International Women’s Day 2022, “Gender Equality Today, for a Sustainable Tomorrow” is a fact that can be realised.
“These movers and shakers, world changers and history makers that are being honoured here are making ardent strides towards the sustainability of our nation. Years ago, they felt empowered enough as girls and women to start making a lasting difference in their lives. Little did they know that what they were doing would have such a solid impact on the lives of others. They have made a positive difference in the lives of their families, their neighbours and in the lives of Nevisians as a whole.
“Imagine, the women who are blazing the trail in agriculture today are feeding us. They are reducing the import bill and tackling a major global concern. That global concern of food security but if they were never empowered as equals in the past, their contributions would not have been realized, and we would not have been here to celebrate them today,” she said.
The minister noted, it was for that reason she will continue to be resolute in her stance that space should be made for women and girls in every aspect of life, in every avenue of business, at every level of policy making and in every field of study because the manner in which women and girls are valued today, impacts what they can achieve tomorrow, and what they achieve tomorrow will directly impact the success everyone can enjoy as a nation.
She used the opportunity to encourage every woman and girl to dream big and to pursue their dreams.
“Never let anyone dissuade you. Never let anyone discount your ability. Never let anyone disenfranchise or discourage you. Know that you have much to give and the world would only be less without your valid input.
“Let us all embrace and empower our women, equip our girls and view them as capable equals, and let us all start now. Let us be mentors to other women and girls around us; let us celebrate and promote women instead of criticizing and pulling down; let us lobby for women to be treated fairly and to be paid equally for the great work that they are doing; let us create space, let us create valuable space for our women and girls so that they can have their ideas, opinions valued and heard, and so let us start by doing it now,” she said.
Also present at the ceremony were Her Hon. Hyleta Liburd, Deputy Governor General on Nevis; Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Health and Gender Affairs and Mrs. Brantley; Hon. Spencer Brand and Mrs Brand; Mrs. Hélèn Lewis, Legal Advisor and her husband; and Hon. Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds, Opposition Member.
The post Nevis Honours Women and Girls Organisations on International Women’s Day 2022 appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has seen indications that Russia’s military in its assault on Ukraine is using so-called dumb bombs that are unguided and greatly increase the risk of missing targets, a senior U.S. defense official said on Wednesday.
Upwards of 400 Cubans, many holding passports and plane tickets, gathered at Panama´s embassy in Havana on Wednesday protesting new visa requirements that hinder those in a growing wave of migrants hoping to pass through the Central American nation and north to the United States.
(Reuters) -Russia’s defence ministry acknowledged on Wednesday that some conscripts were taking part in the conflict with Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin denied this on various occasions, saying only professional soldiers and officers had been sent in.
South Korea’s conservative opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol is projected to win the election, state-funded local television network KBS reported on Thursday.
Three acquaintances of the teenage assailants who murdered an 85-year-old Catholic priest as he celebrated mass in his church in 2016 were respectively sentenced to 8, 10 and 13 years in prison for “criminal terrorist association”, French media reported on Wednesday.
PRZEMYSL, Poland/ISACCEA, Romania (Reuters) -Thousands more Ukrainian refugees fled to central and eastern Europe on Wednesday, many with no contacts and nowhere to go, as host countries scrambled to accommodate them.
The post News Briefs 09/03/2022 appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
By Suzzanne Cousins
CNW
CNW- For 2022, International Women’s Day highlights the need to break biases associated with gender inequality with the hope of forging women’s equality in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
Over the past year, several Caribbean women have broken such biases to make history as either the first woman, black woman, or woman of Caribbean descent to achieve an incredible feat. Here are a few of the wonderful women we want to highlight:
Here’s to a woman who makes you stand at attention. Though small in stature Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman made big news this year when she assumed the role of Jamaica’s first female Chief of Defence Staff. This appointment is the first time in the island’s history that a woman heads the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).
She was also the first female officer to serve at sea, which led to her becoming the first female appointed to a frontline combat role in the Caribbean. Wemyss-Gorman is also the first female officer of the Jamaica Defence Force to attain the rank of Rear Admiral, a first for the English-speaking Caribbean and the Commonwealth. This role makes her a senior naval flag officer, equivalent to a major general and air vice-marshal.
The world’s first army boss served 15 years aboard Jamaica Coast Guard ships and as Operations Officer and Officer Commanding Shore Base, Second in Command of the JDF Airwing, and Commanding Officer of the JDF Coast Guard. She was responsible for the founding of the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre. She is an alumna of the US Naval War College and received a master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies from the University of the West Indies (UWI).
We salute Antonette for her devotion to national security and repeatedly making history.
Dubbed ‘Your Jamaican Girl,’ Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid certainly has become Jamaica’s and the region’s number one ‘hostess with the mostess.’ The veterinary-scientist-turned professional emcee, speaker, human ethernet, and entrepreneur made history last year when she became the first Jamaican woman to speak at TEDxAstonUniversity under the theme UNTAPPED.
Focusing on her parenting skills and relationship with her daughter Naima-Kourtnae, Reid wowed the crowd with her speech “The untapped potential of raising children holistically.” After posting her presentation on its official TEDx Talks YouTube channel, more than 42,000 people flocked to get a taste of what Reid had to share. Fans were beyond proud and excited for her and showered her with praises.
We honor Terri-Karelle for being a stalwart mother, businesswoman, and motivator for other women who break biases and bet on themselves.
With a track record of track records, Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson Herah created history at the Tokyo Olympics last year by retaining her 200m title in 21.53 seconds. This time follows her historic 100 meters win of 10.61 seconds on July 31. She broke Florence Griffith-Joyner’s Olympic Record of 10.62 set at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Last year Thompson Herah became the first woman to retain the sprint double at the Olympic games. In the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Thompson Herah won the 100m gold medal with 10.71s. She won her second gold in the 200 m final, clocking 21.78s.
Thompson Herah is the fastest woman alive and the second-fastest woman in history. With her 200m Olympic win, she also ranks as the second-fastest woman in the 200 meters. She also shattered Jamaica’s 200m national record of 21.64secs set by Merlene Ottey in 1991.
She now holds four of the top 10 times ever run in the 100m and is the only woman to run four legal times under 10.70 seconds in history.
We continue to be on our marks and set to watch Elaine go as she creates more history for herself and the Jamaican athletics community.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley made history along with President Sandra Mason to become the first women to lead Barbados as an independent republic.
The Right Honorable Mia Motley, the island’s first female prime minister, also made history calling the country’s first election as a republic. Her party won 100% of the seats for the second time in a row. The Barbadian politician and attorney is also the first woman to lead the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), which she has led since 2008.
Dame Sandra Mason, formerly the island’s governor-general since 2018, was named president of the nation following a vote in parliament late last year. She now replaces the Queen as the head of state.
Motley also declared Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty as the nation’s newest and youngest female National Hero.
We raise our glasses to Mia and Sandra for their drive and desire to break biases and to do so unapologetically.
The year started on a high for Supreme Court Justice and Deputy assistant U.S. attorney general Leondra Kruger when U.S. President Joe Biden announced her as a nominee to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer.
Born to Jamaican parents, Kruger made history as the first black woman nominated for that office. The 45-year-old is a native of California, but her mother immigrated to the United States from Jamaica, and her late father was an American Jew.
Famous for her life of firsts, Kruger graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, where she earned her law degree from Yale Law School and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal. She was the first Black woman elected to the position. Furthermore, from 2007 to 2013, Kruger was an assistant to the United States Solicitor General and the acting principal deputy solicitor general. She was the first Black woman to hold that role also.
Moreover, in 2014, she assumed her role as Associate Justice to the California Supreme Court. She became the court’s second African-American woman justice, following Janice Rogers Brown, but at 38, was the youngest appointee to the court in recent years and the third youngest appointee ever.
Kruger and her attorney husband, Brian Hauck, have two young children. She was the first member of the California Supreme Court to give birth while serving on the bench.
We hail Leondra for her commitment to the US legal system and her life of history-making firsts.
Olympian Shericka Jackson raced her way to a new milestone this year when she became Scotiabank Jamaica’s first brand ambassador. Yes, that means she became an ambassador before any Jamaican male athlete.
Her endorsement with Scotia comes months ahead of the 2022 World Athletics Championships scheduled for July 15-24 in the United States and will see the Bank supporting the athlete’s career for the next three years.
Jackson is an all-around Jamaican sprinter who has accumulated several medals in the 400 meters, 4x400m relay, and most recently, 100, 200, and 4x100m events. Last year’s season won a bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while forming part of the Jamaican sprint queen trio, which dominated the track. She also won gold for Jamaica at the Tokyo Olympics, running the anchor leg on the Jamaican 4x100m relay team.
We continue to watch Shericka blaze a trail for herself and other upcoming female athletes determined to break biases.
In July, Jamaican-American Economist Dr. Susan Collins will become the first black woman to lead a Federal Reserve Bank in the United States when she assumes the position of President and CEO of The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She will oversee the Boston Fed’s monetary policy and economic research, its operational role in the US financial payments system, bank supervision, and community development in her new capacity.
The 63-year-old grew up in New York with her parents – a social anthropologist father who worked at the United Nations and a university librarian mother who had migrated from Kingston.
Collins says she came to economics out of curiosity after observing the poverty in Jamaica where she frequently visited with her parents to see relatives. So, with her interest piqued and with support from her parents, she pursued her career in economics.
She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 1980 and earned her Ph.D. in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1984. She has held various teaching positions at Harvard, Georgetown University, and the University of Michigan and served on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers from 1989 to 1990.
Until her appointment takes effect on July 1, Collins will continue to serve as provost and executive vice-president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan, where she has been since 2020.
Kudos to Susan for making money moves and history in the US economy.
Jamaican-born Winsome Sears assumed office on January 15, 2022, to become Virginia’s first woman lieutenant governor. Sears, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran born in Kingston, Jamaica, is the first woman of color to be elected to statewide office in Virginia.
The 57-year-old emigrated from Jamaica and grew up in the Bronx, New York.
She majored in English and minored in economics at Old Dominion University and holds a master’s from Regent University. She then served as an electrician in the United States Marines. Sears, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2004, previously served on the Virginia Board of Education. She was also appointed to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee by former U.S. President George W Bush. Before running for office, she served as a Marine pilot.
Sears said she was honored and humbled to be sworn in as the first woman to this high office and promised that during her tenure, she would partner with the Embassy of Jamaica to look at how they could collaborate in improving trade, education, and tourism and twinning with several towns.
Cheers to Winsome for her determination, breaking biases and barriers for women across the country.
Barbados-born jurist, Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, is New York City’s new Corporation Counsel, following a historic 51-0 vote by the New York City Council. This appointment makes her the first-ever Caribbean-born woman to serve in that capacity.
As Corporation Counsel, Hinds-Radix will lead the City’s Law Department, primarily responsible for providing legal representation to the City, the Mayor, other elected officials, and City agencies in all affirmative and defensive civil litigation. Her last position was an associate justice of the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, where she served as an associate justice since 2021.
Before her appointment to the Appellate Division, Justice Hinds-Radix served as Administrative Judge for Civil Matters in the Second Judicial District for three and a half years.
Hinds-Radix, the first and current president of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Lawyers Association (CALA), was elected to the Supreme Court, Kings County (Brooklyn) in November 2004. She served as a New York City Civil Court Judge from 2002 through 2004, spending her first year in the Criminal Court of Kings County.
We stand with the Bajan community in being proud of Sylvia and her achievements as she keeps breaking barriers and biases.
Of course, we could go on to mention so many other Caribbean women who made history in the past year, but we want to know from you. Who else broke biases and made history, in your opinion?
The post Caribbean Women – Making History appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
Gleaner- Four men were killed in a targeted police operation in a community known as Zambia in Central Village, St Catherine this morning.
Preliminary reports are that the men were caught by surprise at a house.
They were killed at about 2:30 a.m.
The police say they recovered three firearms in the operation.
Investigators are at the scene.
The post Jamaica: Cops Kill 4 at Central Village Shootout appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.